Automatic shuttle-changing loom with sliding front plate for the shuttle-boxes.



` PATENTBD MAY 14, 1907. STIM T e Loo fg C lll.

H SLIDING FRONT PLATE ES 4 PSON M WIT HE SHUTTLE B0X- ATIoN HLEDMAR. s, 19o

Y Wr Il AUTOMATIC SHUTTLE `GHANGTN 1 TOR T APPLIO 'UNITED srnrnlsgrnnr onnrcn.

WALLACE I. STIMPSON, OF MILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGrNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC SHUTTLE-CHANGING LOOM WITH SLlDlNG FRONT PLATE FOR THE SHUTTLE-BOXES. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed Marcli 8. 1906, Serial No. 304,868.

matic Shuttle-Changing Looms with Sliding4 Front Plates for the Shuttle-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

In automatic weft replenishing looms wherein the weft replenishment is accomplished by discharging the spent shuttle and inserting a fresh shuttle, it is a customary plan to move the front-plate of the shuttleboX at the supply side of the loom upwardly so as to permit the insertion of the fresh shuttle by a substantially horizontal movement into the then open shuttle-box; and, after the fresh shuttle has thus been put into place, the front-plate descends into `normal position, thus closing the shuttle-box, and the fresh shuttle is then in position to proceed with the weaving operations. In such looms the fresh shuttle may not be inserted accurately into place on the race-plate of the lay and this defective position of the shuttle is enhanced in case the usual rear binder is being pressed forwardly by its usual spring at the time the fresh shuttle is inserted,

The object of the present invention is to enable the front-plate of the shuttle-box to properly descend into place in case the fresh shuttle is not accurately located on the raceplate of the lay and at the same time to force the shuttleA into its proper position ready to be picked through the shed.

In carrying out the obj ect of this invention, the front-plate of the shuttle-box at the supply side of the loom moves up and down at substantially right angles to the race-plate of the lay. The lower edge of the front-plate is made of unusual thickness and it is beveled on its inner face. The forward upper edge of the lay is recessed to receive the beveled lower edge of the front-plate. Accordingly, should the freshly inserted shuttle be misplaced on the race-plate, it will be encountered by the beveled edge of the descending front-plate and be forced backwardly into proper-position.

The present improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a vertical cross-section of the shuttle-box ofthe lay atthe supply side of the loom, ,showing the front-plate elevated into position for the insertion of a fresh shuttle. Fig. 2, is a similar cross-section showing the front-plate in its normal descended position.

' A, is the lay; B, is the front-plate; C, is the binder constituting in this instance the rear of the shuttle-box and having the usual con-i struction of a rear binder; D, is the'top-plate of the shuttle-box, and E, is the race-plate. The front-plate is secured to a frame F, by means of arms G. Thisframe has hubs H, H, which slide on vertical rods I, fixed to brackets J, and K, iiXed to the lay. The construction of this frame and guideway is similar to the construction set forth in the copending application of Edward S. Stimpson, filed March 8, 1906, Serial Number 304,852, excepting that in the present case the guideway for the frame compels the frame to move up and down at substantially right angles to the race-plate of the lay. The frame is lowered by means of springs L, (as in said Edward S. Stimpson application) and is elevated by any known means, such as the cam and intermediate instrumentalities shown in said application of said Edward S. Stimpson. As illustrated in the present drawings, a connecting link R, is pivoted to a stud S, on the frame F, which corresponds to the actuating link R, of said Edward S. Stimpson application.

The lower edge of the front-plate B, is

thick as'illustrated and it is beveled on its lower inner face as illustrated at T, in the drawings. The upper forward edge of the lay is recessed as shown at U, for the accommodation of the lower beveled edge of the front-plate. Consequently, as shown in Fig. 2, when the front-plate occupies its normal lowered position, the bevel` T, is wholly below the top face of the race-plate so thatthe front-plate presents a continuous vertical face to bear against thefront wall of the shuttle.

When the front-plate is elevated, as shown y l descend because its bevel T, will encounterthe upper forward edge of the shuttle and force the shuttle back into proper position on the race-plate. ready to be picked truly through the shed. In case the binder is a forwardly spring'npressed binder (as is customary)7 and if the spring pressure is then on7 the descending' front-plate will force the shuttle back against the spring' pressure.

Should the inserted shuttle be so badly placed that the front-plate cannot descend, no damage Will ensue because the front-plate is pulled down by springs.

I claim* l. An automatic shuttle-changing' loom having', in combination, a movable frontplate for the shuttle-box at the supply side g of the loom having a beveled inner edge adapted to move an inserted shuttle back- Wardly, and means for moving the frontplate. l

2. An automatic shuttle-changing loomi having', in combination, a lay having a recess at its upper Aforward edge at the supply side of the loom, a guideway on-the lay extending' substantially at right angles to the raceplate of the lay, a frame sliding' in said gnide Way, a front-plate 'for the shuttle box at the supply side of the loom carried by and nieving with said frame, said 'front-plate having its lower edge beveled on its inner l'ace, said bevel normally occupying the said recess in the lay, and means for raising and l i)\\\'ering said frame.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto si gned my name in the presence of tn'o subscribing' Witnesses.

VALLACE I. S'lIlNIPSON 7i tn esses GEORG-E Oris DnArnn, ERNEST W. WOOD. 

